Kenneth Ranson Morse

Military

Killed in Action on 26 February 1943 in B-24D 41-23804 'Sad Sack', 44BG/66BS while serving as Tail Gunner on a mission to bomb the port facilities as Wilhelmshaven, Germany. The aircraft was attacked by fighters near the Initial Point (IP) which caused the loss of 2 engines, started a fire in the bomb bay area, damaged the control cables and killed SGT Morse. Pilot, 1LT Robert McPhillamey, gave the bale out order over the city of Oldenburg, Germany. 8 of the crew baled out and were captured as Prisoners of War but one died the next day. Besides Kenneth Morse, 1 other airman was also killed in the fighter attack.



POW

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

The insignia of the 44th Bomb Group.

44th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
A B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95260) nicknamed "Lili Marlene" of the 66th Bomb Squadron, 44th Bomb Group flies in formation with two comrades. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'B-24 H & B-24 J OF 44th B.G. 66th Sqdn'

66th Bomb Squadron

  • Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Howard W Beaman

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37113173
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Robert P Garmon

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14098416
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Rexford Willis Lippert

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-662346
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Robert H McPhillamey

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-437598
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

John T Mooney

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-727368
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Aircraft

41-23804

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Sad Sack
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Eagle Grove, Iowa 16 November 1921

Other

Killed in Action (KIA)

Oldenburg, Germany 26 February 1943 Killed when the aircraft was attacked by fighters near the Initial Point (IPA).

Buried

Eagle Grove, IA 50533, USA 27 February 1943 Originally buried by the Germans in the Evangelical Parish Cemetery of Bad Zwischenahn, Germany. After the war he remains were reinterred at the Ardennes American Cemetery and later repatriated to Eagle Grove, Iowa.

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

WWII Draft Cards
WWII Enlistment records

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 22-Jun-2015. Made connections to Place, Aircraft and Mission within existing website data; Added decorations and Burial event, added Model letter, aircraft Unit association crew position and loss details per "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces" Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE; Added KIA event per MACR 16053.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Roll of Honor, MACR 16053, Losses of the 8th and 9th AFs Vol. 1 by Bishop and Hey p. 81, The 44th BG Roll of Honor and Casualties by Lundy pp. p. 54-56